Can-opener



Patented May 28, 1895.

(No Model.)

T. F. HAGERTY. CAN OPENER.

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a'rnrir CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 0,099, dated May 28, 1895. Application filed January 26,1895. Serial No- 3 modem To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. HAGERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oan-0peners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers, and the object of my invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive can opener which will open cans of any size in a rapid and perfect manner and thus prove a thoroughly practical and useful article for this purpose.

To attain the desired object the invention consists of acan opener embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts for service substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved can-opener applied in the proper position to open the top of the can horizontally. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the device in position for opening the can vertically. Fig. 3 represents a vertical central sectionalview of my device. Fig. 4 represents a detail view of a modified construction of my can-opener.

In the drawings the letter A designates the handle of my can opener formed with the hilt or upward extending shoulder B, the depending guide 0, the slot or channel D, the horizontal disposed guide E and the contiguous curved shoulder or abutment F. To the contiguous shoulder is secured the knife or cutter G having the curved blade H and in using my can opener to open cans with this blade said blade is driven into the top of the can and the abutment rests upon the upper edge of the can and forms a fulcrum for the can opener, the guide preventing the device from slipping as the cutter removes the top of the can with a shear out, as is obvious. Fitting in the channel of the shank of the handle is the threaded stem or stud J carrying the disk or plate K formed with the depending barbs L adapted to be forced into the top of the can to form the pivot for the can opener and to the threaded stem is connected the handle M having the metal band N and adapted to clamp the disk or plate at any point in the slot or channel of the shank of the handle according to the diameter of the can. To the upward extending shoulder B is secured the knife or cutter P having the knife edge Q arranged adjacent to the depending guide 0 and in operating the device to open a can horizontally the barbs on the plate are forced into the center of the can and by turning the handle around the cutter B opens the can with a clean shear cut and the guide adjacent to the cutter prevents improper movement of the cutter as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the barbs on the disk are driven into the top of the can at the center thereof and the shank is held in a horizontal position by the handle connected with the disk. The shank which is disposed horizontally has the cutter forced into the can top near its edge andthe handle is moved around, the disk with barbs forming a fulcrum, and the cutter removes the top making a clean circular cut, as is evident. v

In the modified construction I provide the handle with a depending lug R to which is secured the horizontal disposed cutter S and in this construction the cutter removes the top of the can by cutting around the periphery or circumference thereof.

It will thus be seen that I produce a can opener which will open cans of any size either vertically or horizontally with a clean shear out, also that the device is of simple, durable and inexpensive construction and entirely practical.

1. A can opener consisting of the handle and shank made of one piece, the cutter carried by the end of the shank, the cutter-secured to the shank, the guide adjacent to the cutter and the handle adjustable in the shank and having a barb adapted to engage the can top, and form a fulcrum.

2. A can opener consisting of the handle and the shank, the cutter at the end of the shank, the cutter secured to the shank and the guide'adjacent thereto, the disk having ICO the stem adjustable in the shank and the 0ppositely arranged barbs depending from the disk and the handle carried by the stern of the disk.

3. A can opener having the slotted shank, the disk adjustable in said shank and having the oppositely arranged depending barbs, the lug formed in the shank and having the inclined and fiat faces to receive the vertical and horizontal cutters. to

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS F. HAGERTY. Witnesses:

J OHN HAGERTY, GEORGE A. WILLIAMS. 

